It is possible to get water for free, for all of your irrigation requirements.

There are two common sources: Catch rainwater from your roof; or run down to the river at two easy locations (both boat launches) and load as much as you can carry in whatever containers you can find.

This also applies to the half-dozen creeks that flow all summer and empty into the river. Some of these (Whitemud, Fulton and Mill Creeks) have several easy access points close to roadways. Some are a bit harder to get to carrying heavy pails.

This water is better for irrigation in that it is not chlorinated, and free is always good.

I applaud those who spend time and their own money to save the big ash and elm trees in our city; I do it myself.

Focus on resources hurts tech sectors

David MacLean hit the nail squarely on the head with his comment, “Canada’s economic fundamentals are wrong, and have been for decades.”

Our malaise extends beyond manufacturing to the entire science and technology sector. Six decades of politicos, both federally and provincially, have painted Canada into a non-competitive corner. This longstanding marginalization of science by politicians has engendered an exodus of aspiring scientists.

For five decades, it became expedient to export raw resources and to import technology and manufactured goods. Failing to add value has deprived two generations of polytechnic and university graduates significant employment in science and technology and hampered our trade balance.

There is no quick fix; it requires a long-term, non-partisan, multi-party developmental and implementation strategy supported by stimulus spending. Look to other countries that have surpassed Canada and cherry-pick solutions to make our science and technology more viable. Increased spending for university research is but a small component of the solution.

M.L. Clark, Camrose

Edmontonians have our backs

I have never once seen anyone actually quote a dictionary definition of the word “champion.” When I worked at Alberta Hansard, we used the current edition of the Webster’s Dictionary as the official source for spelling and definition of all words and terms.

Let me quote: “someone who defends another person or a cause.” Funk and Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary defines the word as, “one who fights for another or defends a principle or cause.”

Both references include the commonly held meaning of a sports winner, but I remember when mayor Laurence Decore suggested the slogan be adopted to honour those who came to the aid of others during and after the Black Friday tornado.

Edmonton’s slogan should be brought back with one small change – A City of Champions, because that is what this city is — a place where we care about each other and look out for each other and fight to help and defend each other.

B.J. Cochrane, Edmonton

U.S. health care skews travel insurance

We have a son in the U.S. and extended family in Holland and the U.S.

Our favourite travel insurance broker emailed us with the news that the premiums for our age would see a 70-per-cent increase by the end of May, making travel to foreign family impossible given our fixed and modest income.

We know that these high costs are a result of U.S. medical practices where care is mostly grounded in free-market ideology, resulting in astronomic bills for Canadians who get sick while visiting that country. And (we have had two experiences) getting ill in Europe does not result in financial disasters, for medical professionals there seem devoted to help the ill whoever these are.

So here is our suggestion to travel insurance companies. Develop policies that exclude the U.S. Our guess is these would be far less costly. Any company that manages to do that will have us as a customer.

Adrian Peetoom, Edmonton

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